Given the usual impact of injuries in an NFL season an increase to 63 players would allow teams to have more players in reserve to either specialize such as kick or punt returns or more time to develop within the system used for offense and defense. Signing a player during the season and thrusting them into the system can't be ideal for either the player or team. I'm sure the players union would be for it. Perhaps a two tiered pay and benefit set up like other unions do for the additional 10 players. Owners might go for that given the impact of injuries upon their teams chances of making the playoffs.

What do you think?

https://www.ocregister.com/2019/05/20/todd-gurley-absent-as-rams-begin-voluntary-ota-workouts/

Rams TED RATH’S STATUS


Rams strength and conditioning coach Ted Rath remains on leave from the team as he awaits trial on three counts of misdemeanor sexual battery. In the meantime, the Rams, too, are “still waiting on things to be cleared up,” McVay said on Monday.

Rath was charged earlier this year for an incident that took place at a private residence Moorpark in June 2018. If convicted, he could face a maximum of 18 months in jail.A tentative trial date has been set for May 31.

Way he answers the questions, his outlook and experience... I've always respected him in his career particularly with the bolts but the more I hear from him the more I think he's going to have a big impact in our secondary:

https://www.therams.com/video/we-re-striving-to-be-the-best-in-the-league-weddle

Sports
DAN GREENSPAN (Associated Press),The Associated Press 1 hour 18 minutes ago. THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) --

Los Angeles Rams center Brian Allen started to build a rapport with quarterback Jared Goff last season as a rookie when starter John Sullivan would be held out of practice early in the week to rest and recuperate.

Allen was again snapping the ball to Goff during the first day of organized team activities Monday. In his second season, however, Allen will not have to make way for Sullivan.

''We had a lot of time to play together last year Monday through Thursday, and then John took over on the weekends. But now it's a full-time gig for me,'' Allen said.

How Allen settles into his new position could determine whether the Rams reach the Super Bowl for the second consecutive season. It is the biggest change on an offensive line that has been a marvel of health and consistent play during the previous two seasons under coach Sean McVay. Sullivan started 35 of a possible 36 games during the regular season and playoffs during that span.

The Rams chose not to exercise a team option in March to bring back the 33-year-old Sullivan for a third season and instead put into action a succession plan that started when they selected Allen in the fourth round of the 2018 draft.

Allen got a ''redshirt year'' last season to learn from the veteran lineman and work with Goff, all without the pressure of having to play a critical role for the eventual NFC champions.

Offensive line coach Aaron Kromer also had Allen learning to play guard to give the position group more flexibility. Such practice was particularly helpful in helping Allen learn blocking schemes in McVay's offense.

''It really forces you to know it better and know what everyone is doing,'' Allen said. ''As a center that's kind of your job, but to have that, it just makes you stay on top of it a little bit better.''

Allen believes that experience will give him the best opportunity to succeed in the NFL, and he is immensely grateful to Sullivan for the part he played in that development.

''It's sad not having him here,'' Allen said. ''I'm just kind of out here sometimes thinking what would he do here, what would he say to me here, stuff like that. He was a great mentor for me and I couldn't thank that guy enough.''

Allen wasn't the only young Rams player to benefit from what Sullivan could offer on and off the field. Goff credits Sullivan's vast understanding and recognition of opposing defenses for playing a part in his improvement over the past two seasons.

Without the trustworthy Sullivan there to change protections at the line of scrimmage, Goff and Allen are working to build a more collaborative approach to making calls in hopes of overcoming the lack of experience.

''With Brian, there is some of me and him working together a little bit more and trying to solve problems at the same time at the line where I could lean on John so heavily,'' Goff said. ''I expect Brian to get there, but he's just in his first full year of actually playing.''

The plan is to show Allen as many different defensive alignments as possible over the next few months to make sure he is on the same page with Goff, but McVay understands there are limits to what a coach can do in creating the relationship between a center and quarterback. The early signs are promising, McVay said, pointing to how Goff is talking to Allen.

''I think he and Brian are really getting comfortable with one another, and you can hear it,'' McVay said. ''Their communication after periods, a certain sets of plays, whatever it is, their dialogue is ongoing and that's the most important thing.''

Thanks to the support system put in place last year, Allen is confident he will be ready to start on Sundays later this year.

''Excited for the opportunity and this is what I've been working for my whole life,'' Allen said. ''It's here.''

NOTES: RB Todd Gurley, DE Dante Fowler, CB Aqib Talib and CB Marcus Peters did not attend the workout. McVay said all four players communicated their plans with the Rams and none of the absences were unexpected. Fowler could join the team later this week, McVay said.

---

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/rams-center-allen-ready-full-time-gig-starter-014401962--nfl.html

Just broke on twitter, interested to see what Suh will demand now at this stage in his career? If it's anywhere close to $10 mil they paid too much.

Look for McCoy to land somewhere like Phillie or another contender, whom might manipulate their cap!

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/05/20/rams-re-sign-linebacker-cory-littleton/

The Rams brought back one of their own Monday.

Per the league’s transaction wire, Rams restricted free agent linebacker Cory Littleton has signed his tender.

The team gave him the second-round tender, meaning Littleton will make $3.095 million this season.

The former undrafted rookie from Washington has grown into a leader for the Rams defense, and made the Pro Bowl last year as a special teamer. He moved into the starting lineup after the trade of Alec Ogletree, and has flourished.

________________________________________

About freaking time.

Wonder if they've discussed a long term extension

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This is an older article. Not sure if we missed it. Didn’t find in search.

https://www.ninersnation.com/2019/4/30/18524042/rumors-kyle-shanahan-john-lynch-49ers-breakup

Report: Possible friction between John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan could lead to a potential breakup

Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller put out his Scouting Notebook on Tuesday morning. There were some interesting tidbits in there, to say the least. Some people will scoff at this because Miller has a reputation that he is not a fan of the San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch. Even if he isn’t, I highly doubt he would print the things we are about to get into.

Here is the excerpt about the 49ers:

There were handshakes, bro hugs and smiles in the draft room as the 49ers drafted Nick Bosa at No. 2 overall in the 2019 draft, but word out of San Francisco points to friction and a potential breakup of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.

According to sources in the team’s scouting and coaching staff, the two aren’t in lock step as far as the vision of the offseason and the future of the franchise. The coach, Shanahan, wants to scheme and develop players while not being bothered with the player evaluation process, but more and more he finds himself involved while not trusting the decision-making of Lynch—a former media analyst after his Hall of Fame playing days but not someone with a scouting background.

It’s naive to think that every decision made by the front office will have 100% of the members in agreement with each other. If the last part is true, then this story has legs to it. Honestly, some of Lynch’s recent draft picks make sense. Solomon Thomas was never going to produce like a top 5 talent. It’s easy to say that now, but I’ve always felt like that. That’s not on Thomas that he was selected where he was.

Having that scouting background is completely different than the experiences Lynch went through as a player. So I understand the point Shanahan is making.

Here’s the last paragraph from Miller:

The 49ers signed both Lynch and Shanahan to five-year contracts when they were hired before the 2017 season. With three years left and a team that’s been stuck in neutral ever since, a power struggle could be coming with Lynch and chief deputy Adam Peters on the outs, and Shanahan looking for his own personnel man to run the draft and free agency.

For what it’s worth, it’s a six-year contract, not five.

Depending on how patient ownership is, year 3 is usually when you don’t get any more passes and you are judged by the product you put on the field. If Jimmy Garoppolo balls out, and the defense plays to their potential, none of this matters. If not, this story isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

As for the 2019 draft class, Bosa has a chance to save some jobs. With Shanahan being an offensive guy, Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd are going to have to be successes on the field. Hurd likely gets more time to develop, as he is still green at the receiver position.

All of this feels like the front office is feeling pressure to win. That’s no surprise. Tensions build and fingers start to point. A 9-7 playoff berth will solve plenty of problems.

Darrell Henderson: Rams 'best system I could get in'

In the aftermath of Super Bowl LIII and Todd Gurley's slowdown at the end of the 2018 season, the Los Angeles Rams opted not to find another backup running back to boost the ground game in free agency. Instead, L.A. waited until the draft, specifically the third round, to grab their next tailback, Darrell Henderson.

An undersized speedster out of Memphis, Henderson already feels at home with the Rams.

"If you go back and watch my college film and you watch the Rams film, it's the same," Henderson told the Los Angeles Times this week. "I thought that was the best system I could get in. So everything worked out great. When I was talking to them, everything was clicking and we developed a relationship. The coaches told me they knew they were going to get me so it was the perfect fit."

Go to Full Article
[www.nfl.com]

https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-ota-questions-20190519-story.html

Rams ready for OTAs with some questions needing to be answered

For the first time since their Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots in February, the Rams on Monday will convene on the field for full-squad drills.

The third phase of voluntary offseason workouts, which began in April, is a four-week segment that includes 10 days of organized team activities, commonly referred to as OTAs. Teams can conduct 11-on-11 drills, but live contact is prohibited.

That means coach Sean McVay can begin to implement and evaluate subtle changes to an offense that ranked as one of the NFL’s best during the last two regular seasons, but failed to score a touchdown in the 13-3 Super Bowl defeat.

It also will enable defensive coordinator Wade Phillips to assess possibilities for a unit that lost lineman Ndamukong Suh but added veteran safety Eric Weddle and linebacker Clay Matthews.

The eight rookies in the 2019 draft class, and more than two dozen undrafted free agents, will get opportunities to show coaches and teammates how they stack up in a full-team scenario.

Here are some key questions:

How will Weddle and Matthews fit in?

With a combined 12 Pro Bowl selections, Weddle and Matthews are expected to provide veteran skill and leadership to a defense that finished the 2018 season with a strong — but ultimately losing — performance in the Super Bowl.

After nine seasons with the Chargers and three with the Baltimore Ravens, Weddle, 34, replaces Lamarcus Joyner in a safety corps that includes John Johnson and rookie Taylor Rapp among others.

Matthews, 33, was an outstanding pass rusher during 10 seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He also could play inside linebacker for the Rams.

Will star defensive tackle Aaron Donald know the drills?

This will be Donald’s first time participating in OTAs under McVay.

Donald did just fine the previous two seasons after skipping OTAs because of a contract impasse. He was voted NFL defensive player of the year in 2017 and then, after receiving a $135-million extension, won again in 2018.

Having Donald in the fold should help in the evaluation of rookie Greg Gaines, a fourth-round pick whom McVay has tabbed as a potential starter at nose tackle in the base defense.

Who are the new coaches?

Former tight ends coach Shane Waldron is the pass-game coordinator and also has been given the title of quarterbacks coach. But new assistant Zac Robinson essentially replaced Zac Taylor as quarterbacks coach after Taylor was hired as head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Robinson will be Jared Goff’s fourth quarterbacks coach in four NFL seasons. Robinson played quarterback at Oklahoma State and spent time as a player with four NFL teams. He has worked as an analyst for Pro Football Focus.

Robinson has “a track record, in my head at least, that he’s played and understands the position,” Goff said at the outset of offseason workouts.

Eric Henderson replaced Bill Johnson as defensive line coach. Henderson was the Chargers’ assistant defensive line coach the last two seasons.

Wes Phillips, Wade Phillips’ son, is the tight ends coach. Wes Phillips coached Washington Redskins tight ends for five seasons. He previously was a member of the Dallas Cowboys’ staff.

Is receiver Cooper Kupp back after knee surgery?

Kupp ended the 2018 season on injured reserve after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in a Nov. 11 game against the Seattle Seahawks.

In videos posted by the team, he appears to be progressing, but the Rams won’t hurry him.

McVay has indicated that the goal is for Kupp to be ready during training camp, so his participation in full-squad activities during OTAs is expected to be limited.

Linebacker Samson Ebukam underwent an offseason knee procedure and also could be limited during OTAs.

How much will star running back Todd Gurley do?

Despite the questions about the status of Gurley’s left knee, the star running back thrives on practice.

OTAs will enable McVay to explore how third-round pick Darrell Henderson might provide an alternate look that could lighten Gurley’s and Malcolm Brown’s workload during the season.

After the departures of Rodger Saffold and John Sullivan, can the offensive line regroup?

Saffold, who signed with the Tennessee Titans, and Sullivan, who remains unsigned, had a combined 20 years of NFL experience.

Second-year pro Joseph Noteboom replaces Saffold at left guard. Second-year pro Brian Allen will get the first opportunity to replace Sullivan at center.

Left tackle Andrew Whitworth, right guard Austin Blythe and right tackle Rob Havenstein are returning starters.

Rookies Bobby Evans and David Edwards are expected to get work at both tackle spots and also, possibly, at guard.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/05/20/25-ways-improve-nfl-fmia-peter-king/

FMIA: Smart NFL People Share 25 Ways To Make Pro Football Better

The idea: ask smart people, 25 of them, in and around football, what they’d do if they could change one thing about the sport of professional football.

I’m getting out of the way. From Ron Wolf to Pete Carroll to Amy Trask to Mike Florio, here goes.I’ll be back to wrap things up.

The Lead: Game Change

Ron Wolf: Cut Down On Flags
Pro Football Hall of Fame general manager

I spent 38 active years in professional football. I came in not knowing anything at all about pass interference, and guess what? After those 38 years, I left without knowing what pass interference is. I think that the officials have responsibility in too many areas nowadays. The rule that drives me batty is “players in a defenseless posture.” The thing I fail to understand is throughout the ages when hasn’t a receiver been in a defenseless position? Interestingly, football has always been a game of blocking, tackling and kicking. It is supposed to be a spartan game and necessary roughness was a huge part of its attraction and still is. It’s my firm belief that the game should go back to the coaches and players to determine the outcome of a contest. There are way too many flags flying in today’s game. It takes away from the spectacular aspect of the sport. People love the toughness, the dedication, the overall athletic skill of the performers on the field, and they should be the ones that determine the final outcome of any contest—not the officials.

Rick Gosselin: Help Defenses By Extending The Bump Zone
Covered NFL in Kansas City and Dallas for 47 years, Pro Football Hall of Fame voter

In 2008, NFL quarterbacks completed 61 percent of their passes league-wide. Ten years later, NFL quarterbacks were completing passes at a 65 percent clip. In 2008 there were six individual 4,000-yard passing seasons. In 2018, there were 12. Quarterbacks league-wide completed 1,381 more passes in 2018 than they did in 2008. But defenses intercepted 46 fewer passes in 2018 than they did in 2008. The NFL has long been a passing league, but it’s become way too easy of late for offenses to complete passes, gain yards and score points. The NFL has stacked the rules against the defense for years and it’s no longer a fair fight. It’s time to level the playing field. I’d extend the NFL bump rule from five yards to 10. Make the receivers work a little harder for space in their routes and also their catches. The 10-yard cushion would also give NFL defenders a physical counter to all the “rub” routes that have become staples in NFL offenses. The NCAA doesn’t have a five-yard rule. Neither do high schools. At those two levels, defenders are allowed to contact receivers until the ball is in the air. The NFL needs to follow suit.

Dean Blandino: Make Every Play Replay-Reviewable
FOX officiating analyst, former NFL vice president of officiating

Two thoughts:

• I have come full circle on this since I worked in the league, but I now think coaches should be able to challenge anything they want. Don’t increase the number of challenges. Put the onus on the coach to save his challenges. This would simplify the rule because you wouldn’t have to wonder what’s reviewable and what isn’t. Now that the leaguer has added pass-interference to reviewable calls, we’re going to see the creep begin. Next year, they’ll add something else. By not opening it up to all things being reviewable, all we are doing is delaying the inevitable.

• The league needs to put real resources behind officiating. Nothing the league does impacts the game more than officiating, and I believe it’s probably the area least valued by the league. I don’t want this to come across as sour grapes, because the NFL treated me great. But officiating in the NFL is treated almost as a necessary evil. You see on-field officials, good ones, moving to network jobs before the end of their careers. The NFL needs to be competitive and compensate the officials better, and also give them better resources in training.

Brandon Carr: Take Away Some Protection of the Quarterbacks
11-year veteran cornerback, Baltimore Ravens

I was playing for Kansas City in 2008, in the game when Bernard Pollard blitzed and injured Tom Brady. [Brady tore his left MCL and ACL in the first game of 2008 when Pollard hit him around the knee. The NFL created a rule to outlaw hits by defensive players to the knee or lower leg of a quarterback in the pocket in 2009.] I appreciate the Competition Committee trying to make the game as safe as possible for the players. I love the fact that the last CBA outlawed two-a-day practices in training camp—that’s going to allow me to extend my career. But the rules protecting the quarterbacks are pretty tough for defensive backs. Think about it: a 185-pound nickel back blitzes and can’t hit the quarterback low because of the Brady rule, and he has to be careful about hitting him high to avoid hitting him in helmet. Think of that 185-pound DB trying to bring down Ben Roethlisberger, or 245-pound Cam Newton. He’ll hit him around the waist and might just bounce off. This game’s hard enough for the DBs. I think a DB should be able to tackle a quarterback [in the pocket] by the legs.

Scott Hanson: Make the Onside Kick a Real Play Again I
Host, NFL RedZone channel

Let’s morph the onside kick into a fourth-and-15 offensive play. After a field goal or touchdown, the scoring team—if trailing in the fourth quarter—can elect to forgo a kickoff and run a fourth-and-15 offensive play from its own 35 to try and retain possession. Due to the (appropriate, in my opinion) “no running start on kickoffs” rule implemented in 2018, successful onside kick attempts have become overly difficult. Last year, there were only four successful onside kicks in 52 attempts (7.7 percent). In the nine seasons prior, 16.3% of onside kicks were successful.

As for fourth-and-15, teams going for it on fourth-and-15 (exactly) had a 21.7% success rate over the past five years. While I realize the yardage might need to be tweaked (maybe 20 yards instead of 15) based on statistical analysis, I think it’s worth trying to inject more drama and hope into the late moments of NFL games. Or, as we call it on NFL RedZone, “The Witching Hour.”

Hat-tip and thank you to Greg Schiano, who, to my knowledge, was the first to go public with the concept years ago. Great idea.

Booger McFarland: Make the Onside Kick a Real Play Again II
ESPN Monday Night Football analyst

What I would do is allow a trailing team to try to get into the end zone on one play from the 10-yard line, only in the fourth quarter. If they are successful, they retain possession on their own 30-yard line. If they fail, the opposing team takes over at the 50-yard line. Onside kicks would still be allowed, if teams choose, but I think you would find a success rate somewhere around 20 to 25 percent trying to convert from the 10-yard line, which is where I think the NFL wants that play to land—as opposed to the less than 10 percent that we’re at now with onside kicks.

Pete Carroll: Kill Instant Replay
Head coach, Seattle Seahawks

Get rid of—or at least decrease the use of—instant replay. I get all the reasons why we have instant replay, and technology has opened up a new world for us to get to this point. But I miss the human element of trusting the officials to make the calls in the moment and then the rest of us having to live with what they called. It was both fun and frustrating, but I really liked the game better when the officials were just as much a part of the game as the players.

Mark Leibovich: Put Bad Ownership Up For a Public Vote
Chief national correspondent, New York Times Magazine. Author, “Big Game: The NFL in Dangerous Times”

If I could change one rule in the NFL—and I realize this would never happen in the real world but what the hell—I would put in a rule that owners need to stand for re-election every five years. Anyone who lived in the jurisdiction where the team plays, or who purchased a ticket to a home game in the last calendar year, would be eligible to vote, either “approve” or “disapprove,” on the owners’ performance. If an owner receives less than 35-percent approval, he or she would be forced to sell the franchise within 90 days, and that new owner would be forbidden from moving the team. As citizens in a democracy, one of the few remedies we have against corruption, incompetence, arrogance, etc. is to vote. As football fans, we have no such right. Instead, we are subjected to the monopolistic whims of unelected oligarchs in our communities. In many cases they are greedy idiots. They wield largely unchecked power over the fortunes of players, fans, local politicians, even their own “commissioner.” Until now.

See you on Election Day, Mr. Snyder.

Hunter Henry: Ensure That Each Team Gets a Possession in Overtime
Tight end, Los Angeles Chargers

I think both teams should have a chance to touch the ball in overtime, especially in the playoffs. The league should allow both sides of the ball to have a chance to be successful. Take Kansas City last year. I think it would have been cool to at least see them touch the ball in overtime after the Patriots went down the field and scored. Obviously, I think the Patriots earned it and that’s the rule, but it would be cool for the Patriots defense to go out and say, ‘Now, we have to stop these guys.’ Then, if they stopped them, the game is over. If not, the game continues.

Lindsay Jones: Be More Progressive About Players Using Marijuana
National NFL writer, The Athletic

It’s beyond time for the NFL to completely overhaul its drug policy, especially with the way it punishes players for using marijuana, so that’s where I would start. (I swear I am not writing this just because I live in Colorado, home to the most progressive marijuana laws in the country.) The league’s drug policy, collectively bargained with the NFLPA, is growing increasingly out of date with norms across the country, and the fact that many players live in states where possession and use of marijuana is legal for adults but still considered a major offense by the league is problematic. As we learn more about the medical benefits of marijuana, it makes sense that the NFL should be a leader in trying to find new and safer ways for players to manage their pain, rather than continuing to criminalize marijuana use. This isn’t to say that players should be allowed to smoke at team facilities. And they should be punished for violating other laws (such as driving while impaired). There is a lot the league and the players association can do to make the league’s marijuana policy more progressive.

Chris Nowinski: Eliminate Tackle Football Until High School
Co-founder and CEO, Concussion Legacy Foundation

Football is in a precarious position. The more successful a player is, and the longer he plays, the more likely he is to develop CTE. It’s called a dose-response relationship: The more years of tackle football you play (the dose), the higher your risk of CTE (the response). The NFL can reduce CTE risk for players by lowering the dose, but changing the NFL game further wouldn’t be expected to make a big difference. The biggest gains would be made by changing the way children play the game. But slight modifications are probably not enough, just like adding filters and lowering tar in cigarettes, which the smoking industry told us would prevent lung cancer, were not enough. The NFL’s best chance to dramatically reduce CTE risk for players but still have a pipeline of talent is to back efforts to only allow flag football before high school and retrain high school football coaches to virtually eliminate head impacts in practice. Those two changes alone could probably ensure most NFL players, even the successful ones, don’t develop CTE. Football could soon face a reckoning. What if we discover that 75 percent of NFL players have CTE? If CTE is the price for success, how long will it be before most Americans decide their son will never play? The time to change how the youngest players play is now.

Richard Deitsch: Give Fans a Beckham Cam
Staff writer (and media columnist), The Athletic. Radio host, Sportsnet 590 in Toronto

Kill all kickoffs. This would be one of my immediate mandates if given the power to improve the NFL. But I have been asked by my former SI colleague and editor of The MMQB to focus on a media-centric angle regarding improving the game—or in this case, the viewing of the game. The NFL, now, as a television product is very good (Red Zone, high-speed cameras, Tony Romo) and technology will take us to even better places. I personally love the idea of watching the game from a specific positional perspective. Imagine having a Beckham Cam, where viewers at home can experience what it is like from Odell Beckham Jr’s perspective for an entire game, including the vantage point the receiver watches the game from the sideline. The wearable camera technology already exists and you’d also be able to add all the advanced data such as how far Beckham ran during a game, how much energy he expended.

But if you want an outside-the-box idea, and one that would open up a whole new broadcasting genre, well, here you go: I’d love to see a second-screen option for NFL games. Each team designates one practice-squad player (or someone not playing that day) to sit on the bench during the game and offer real-time commentary regarding what viewers are seeing. It would be an incredible education into the game (along with great reps for those who want a post-playing career in broadcasting), the first of its kind in major sports. (As a second-screen option, you could also always go back to the main broadcast if you wanted.) Now, the likelihood of this being greenlit is remote, given NFL organizations are more secret than the Kremlin and practice-squad players might be too worried about revealing proprietary information. But this would be a true inside look at the game in real-time. It would also be a profit center for the NFL, because advertisers would want in.

Sam Farmer: Adios, Chain Gangs
NFL writer, Los Angeles Times

Do away with chain gangs. Use a laser to mark off 10 yards. I know there are far more important issues—concussions and off-the-field behavior among them—but this imprecise, anachronistic system of measuring first downs is silly. You’re only as precise as your most imprecise measurement, so the fact that officials guesstimate on first, second and third down, then suddenly get ultra-precise on fourth down is just wrong. Referee Gene Steratore used the thickness of an index card to measure! It’s like marking and then re-marking your golf ball on the green. It’s an inexact science. I get that it’s very difficult to put a chip in the football and use GPS, because spots are determined when a player’s knee is down. But you’ve got to start somewhere, and the technology is available to create an exact first-down line. The league likes the suspense of running the chain gang onto the field and using every last link to measure. I get it. It’s theater. But it’s the theater of the absurd.

Eric Winston: Seed the Playoffs By Record, Not Division Title
President, NFL Players Association, and former NFL tackle

Ever since you were a small kid and you played games and they kept score, the team with the best record at the end of the season, before the playoffs, got the advantage in the playoffs. Then I get to the NFL, and it’s not that way at all. You get a massive advantage by being one of the top four seeds in each conference. You get at least one home game.

(Examples: In 2011, Pittsburgh was 12-4 and finished second in the AFC North. The Steelers, seeded fifth, had to play a wild-card game at 8-8 Denver … In 2013, the Niners were 12-4 and finished second in the NFC West. Seeded fifth, San Francisco had to play on the road at fourth-seeded Green Bay, 8-7-1.)

I say you can’t control how good the other teams in your division are. Let’s say the division winner is 13-3, and you’re 12-4. This league is supposed to be about excellence, being the best. The best should get the spoils at the end of the day. And a 12-4 team being seeded below teams that might be 9-7 or whatever … it’s just not right. It’s a matter of fairness, which is what the NFL should be about. We have a landscape where it’s not fair right now, and it should be fixed.

Amy Trask: Increase Roster Size
Former CEO, Oakland Raiders. Current CBS NFL analyst

I would increase roster size by a significant number. League economics support an increase and concerns about player health and safety should dictate it. As for league economics: To counter an argument that more players per team means less money per player, increase the salary cap by an amount roughly equal to the cost of additional players at the bottom of the roster. For example, if you increase the roster by a dozen, take an average of the various minimums and multiply that by a dozen and add that to the cap. That’s a marginal amount relative to club revenues. (Trust me on that.) I would also strongly consider doing away with “inactives.” If you’re on the roster, you’re active.

Calais Campbell: Make Every Healthy Player Active on Game Day
Defensive end, Jacksonville Jaguars

One rule change I’d like to propose is eliminating inactives on game day. If teams can dress and play all 53 guys on Sundays, it would help decrease injuries incurred during competition because it would allow more rest and substitutions. If players are aware that there are more guys on the team that can substitute in for a play or two, guys will be less inclined to remain in the game with an injury that could worsen with more time on the field. Overall, more players on the active roster would lead to better health for all players.

Sal Paolantonio: Send Replay Review Into Our Living Rooms
National correspondent, ESPN

I think the NFL should televise the instant replay review. That’s right: Make it part of the network broadcast. The payoff would be immediate and lucrative. One, it would turn an annoying stoppage of play into must-see TV. The audience would see and hear the on-field referee, the instant replay ref in the booth and league officiating guru Al Riveron in New York, dissecting the play. Ratings go up. Two, sponsor this segment. Cha-ching! That’ll get the networks’ attention. Three, a televised review would be the holy-grail of prop bets. The league’s new casino partners would love that action.

Les Snead: Reinvent the Preseason
General manager, Los Angeles Rams

My long-term thought is to reduce the preseason from four to two games, one home and one away. But don’t waste the rest of August. I would add a scrimmage with another team at a neutral site that loves football—and slot that scrimmage the same week that now would be used for the first full preseason weekend, the week after the Hall of Fame Game. We could take the NFL on the road to towns in America that support the NFL on Thursdays, Sundays and Mondays by watching us. Play those scrimmages in great high school stadiums, college stadiums or minor-league baseball stadiums. It’s a chance to give back and invest in our dedicated fans who support us even though they might be in a place that’s not close to an NFL franchise city. Wouldn’t it be fun to see Carson Wentz and the Eagles scrimmage the Vikings somewhere in North Dakota? Or the Seahawks and Texans scrimmaging in Madison, Wis., where Russell Wilsonand J.J. Watt played? Good work for the teams, and very beneficial for the fans. And wouldn’t Carson Wentz always remember the time his professional team played in the state he grew up?

Rich Eisen: Give the Ball Back to the Offense on Fumbles Through the End Zone
Anchor, NFL Network, and host of “The Rich Eisen Show”

If I could wave a wand for NFL change, I’d get rid of the antiquated rule that makes a fumble into and through the end zone a touchback and a change of possession. I know the end zone is hallowed ground, but why should a ball fumbled out of bounds at the one-inch line remain with the offense while a fumble that occurs two inches further down the field, one inch into and through the end zone, goes to the defense? Under the current rule, the defense that likely performed poorly on the drive gets bailed out by a lucky bounce of the ball. I say: Any fumble into and through the endzone should be a reverse touchback. The ball goes to the offense on the 20-yard line. Considerably damaging but not overly punitive, like losing possession. Trust me, when this happens at the end of a Super Bowl—and one day it will—this will cause a national uproar. Just trying to head it off at the pass now.

Terez Paylor: The NFL Must Loosen Its Vise-Grip on Highlights
Senior NFL writer, Yahoo Sports

There is no shortage of things that can be done to improve the NFL, but I’ll use this space to advocate for one underrated thing that I believe could help everyone, from reporters to fans to the NFL itself: loosening up the league’s restrictions on the utilization of highlights and GIFs. I wrote about this here, but the NBA promotes its players and teams by letting news outlets break down X’s and O’s using league footage—unlike the NFL, which aggressively targets organizations that are not rights holders. You can’t even embed the NFL’s videos from its YouTube channel on web sites because the league won’t get a direct click. Allowing more news groups to use the footage to create smarter fans will only improve fans’ understanding of what teams are doing on the field, and help keep the focus on how amazing these athletes are and how special the game of professional football really is.

Neil Hornsby: Shorten the Game
Founder, Pro Football Focus

I would propose that the clock run on incomplete passes till the last four minutes of each half. Then the clock would stop on incompletions. I love the NFL, obviously, but the games are too long, and there are many dead periods in games. There is no reason a football game cannot be played in two hours and 35 minutes, or 2:40. The NCAA is far worse; it’s ridiculous to stop the game on every first down. Who wants a four-hour football game? One of the things I loved about watching the Alliance of American Football games this year was the speed of the game. It just makes the game more enjoyable when you’re not sitting around, sitting around, sitting around waiting for the next play.

Harry Carson: Bring Pre-1993 Retirees’ Pensions In Line With Other Sports …
Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker. Executive director, Fritz Pollard Alliance

As a 13-year veteran of the game and now a retiree myself, I understand first-hand the price many players paid to help build the National Football League into what it is today. The price paid for almost all were physical injuries (knees, hips, etc.) while many others suffered neurological impairment. The NFL should respond to the voices of older (pre-1993) former players and their spouses by bringing pensions and benefits in line with professional basketball and baseball.

Joe Horrigan: … And Do The Same For Pre-1993 Player Benefits
Executive director, Pro Football Hall of Fame (retiring June 1)

It seems almost trivial to say, but the most important element of pro football’s success has always been its players, men who spend countless hours training and preparing for the greatest and most physically demanding sport played. While the financial rewards for today’s players are more reflective of the game’s success than ever, it’s important to remember that the average pro football career is relatively short, yet long-term post-career physical ailments might last a lifetime. The NFL should be applauded for its continuing efforts to address and improve health, safety and quality of life issues for its players. But, if I could do one thing to improve the game off the field it would be to provide former players, particularly those from the pre-1993 era, the same post-career health benefits as their present-day brethren. I realize this is no simple matter and will require the investment and cooperation of both the league and the players association, but I can think of no better initiative to begin the next century of the NFL.

Bart Scott: Liberalize Rules to Bring Back the Excitement of the Kickoff
Former NFL linebacker. Current sports-talk host, WFAN in New York

Bring back the old kickoff rules. In fact, move the kickoff back to the 20-yard-line to encourage kick returns. It’s the most exciting play in the game. Guys like Devin Hester, Mel Gray, Brian Mitchell and Dante Hall were so fun to watch. Teams would put more skilled players on special teams.

Mike Florio: Adopt the XFL’s OT Rule
Founder, Pro Football Talk

The NFL’s overtime problem never will fully be resolved by tweaking the current rule to guarantee a possession for both teams because the possibility remains that someone will parlay the first sudden-death possession into a walk-off field goal. So why not implement a truly fair solution? The XFL, inspired by soccer and hockey using penalty kicks and shots to break ties, will try a two-point conversion shootout, with both offenses and both defenses on the field at the same time, alternating attempts to score from either end of the field. It’s a simple solution that will resonate with younger fans, reduce (ideally) the number of snaps taken to resolve a game, and most importantly change overtime into something that is truly equitable. The chances to score will be the same. And the outcome will be determined by far more players than, as in soccer and hockey, goalie vs. rotation of players trying to beat the goalie. An added benefit would emerge from this approach. With teams spending more time practicing two-point offense, maybe more teams would attempt two-point conversions during regulation. Which actually could promote fewer tie scores at the end of the fourth quarter.

———

Well, wow. I wanted to let my panel of pro football authorities speak for themselves. But let me draw a few things from their 4,300 words:

1. Listen, and you’ll learn. I’ll bet that someone in the NFL office today will email this column around to peers and say, “We should listen to what these people are saying.” Not because any one idea is so smart it should certainly be adopted. But because there are too few times when smart people brainstorm about improving a product. Roger Goodell a few years ago said in a meeting that maybe the league should think about moving the draft to different cities, and maybe it would be better being outside of New York City. Everybody—probably including me—found all the problems with having the draft in, say, Philadelphia. And then it went to Philly and it was probably the greatest draft of all time, and everyone said, Why didn’t we think of this year ago? There’s no issue with new.

2. Smart people can disagree and still be educated. Pete Carroll wants to kill replay because it’s become a tail-wagging-dog thing. Dean Blandino wants coaches to be able to replay every play because the technology is there, and it’s creeping that way, and why not? No matter where you fall on this spectrum, these are two of the smartest people in the game. Very smart people can disagree, and they can make us re-think our long-held beliefs on things. What’s wrong with that?

3. Thank you, Chris Nowinski. Eliminate tackle football till high school. After all we know now, this is a totally rational point of view to take. It gives me the creeps to see fourth-grade tykes dressed up like NFLers, beating each other up in their own young ways. That can wait. Thanks, Chris.

4. Thank you, Mark Leibovich. “We are subjected to the monopolistic whims of unelected oligarchs in our communities. In many cases they are greedy idiots. They wield largely unchecked power over the fortunes of players, fans, local politicians, even their own commissioner.” This is never going to stand. But why shouldn’t owners the local communities hate, and who never win, stand for election?

5. I wish Eric Winston would use his influence to push his wish. Maybe this is because it’s a passion of mine, but why on earth should winning a division at 8-8, or 8-7-1, or ever 9-7, guarantee you a home playoff game over a team in a power division with 12 wins? The NFL, as Winston writes, should be about excellence, not mediocrity.

My thanks to the men and women who answered my call and contributed to the (first annual?) column that I hope will generate ideas about how to improve pro football.

Has anyone heard anything new on the sexual harassment case of Assistant Coach of Physical Weight Conditioning and Management Ted Rath?

• After flashing sensational quickness and earning a spot as Punt Return man, the diminutive Wide Receiver was unable to break as many returns as hoped. With Henderson on the squad, I wonder whether Jo Jo is vulnerable. I hope not. He certainly hasn't peaked yet.

Whadya think , Rambros?

5 storylines to watch during Rams OTAs

The Los Angeles Rams got their rookies on the field for the first time last week for Phase II of their offseason workouts, but things will ramp up in the near future. They’ll begin organized team activities (OTAs) on Monday, May 20, as they continue offseason workouts.


They’ll hold several different sessions between Monday and the end of OTAs on June 6, getting a look at both veterans and rookies on the field together. As always, there’s no shortage of storylines surrounding the Rams, from the top of the roster to the bottom.

Here are five to watch as OTAs get underway this week.

What will the offensive line look like?

Go to Full Article--
[theramswire.usatoday.com]

The off-season in photos.

Mine...

https://www.downtownrams.com/single...eles-Rams-Rookies-Lets-Look-at-the-Sophomores

Enough of the Los Angeles Rams Rookies, Let's Look at the Sophomores

The NFL Draft is a little less than a month old and we know for the most part who the Los Angeles Rams' rookies are minus a few undrafted free agents that they might sign before training camp. However, while all of the focus has been on the rookie class, it's the sophomores fans should have their eye on.

Unlike most teams, the Rams have had the luxury of drafting for the future and not putting the pressure of starting right away on many of their rookies. When a team takes a player on day one or two of the draft, fans expect that player to be able to contribute right away. With the Rams, that hasn't been the case.

Last season the Rams had just one pick on the first two days of the draft - that player was Joe Noteboom. Not a single 2018 rookie started a game last year. However, despite no starts, the Rams got production out of John Franklin-Myers and Brian Allen and Noteboom each got limited work on the offensive line.

With that said, these players will be expected to produce after what was a "redshirt year" in college terms. Let's take a look at the Rams' sophomore class.

Round 3, Pick 89 - T Joseph Noteboom

With Rodger Saffold departing in free agency, it will be expected that Noteboom take over at guard while Andrew Whitworth plays out the final year of his contract and potentially retires. During the preseason, Noteboom didn't allow a single quarterback pressure. The Rams expect Noteboom to be ready and hit the ground running this fall.

Round 4, Pick 111 - C Brian Allen

Allen is in the same situation as Noteboom. The Rams didn't bring John Sullivan back for a third season and will be expected to come in and take over the starting role at center. Allen is a smart player and his 77.8 pass blocking grade ranked third among Rams offensive linemen on Pro Football Focus.

Round 4, Pick 135 - DE John Franklin-Myers

John Franklin-Myers became a very good situational pass rusher for the Rams last season and it should be expected that he continues in that role and continues to develop. The fourth round pick made an impact right away as a rookie, forcing a fumble against the Vikings and recovering a fumble against the Chiefs. He also sacked Tom Brady for the first time in the postseason during the Super Bowl. The Rams have a good player in the makings here.

Round 5, Pick 147 - LB Micah Kiser

In the fifth round the Rams took Micah Kiser out of Virginia Tech. Many fans expected him to contribute as a rookie, but that was not the case. Kiser had just four tackles last season on defense and seven on special teams. The Rams didn't bring back Mark Barron and Kiser will be the favorite to start inside next to Cory Littleton. He's quick diagnose plays and a tackling machine which bodes well for an inside linebacker, but with no experience as a rookie, and not a real backup option, he'll need to learn quickly.

Round 5, Pick 160 - EDGE Obo Okoronkwo

The Rams need help on the edge and they will expect Okoronkwo to contribute in year two. The 2018 fifth round pick started the season on the PUP list after having to go through a foot surgery in training camp. He was a fan favorite after the team drafted him and will have high expectations. With Dante Fowler and Clay Matthews, Okoronkwo will most likely be a situational pass rusher and will look to jump Samson Ebukam on the depth chart.

Round 6, Pick 176 - RB John Kelly

John Kelly had a superb preseason as a rookie, but when he got his opportunity in the regular season after Todd Gurley's injury, he disappointed to say the least. The Rams drafted Darrell Henderson which will take over any role that Sean McVay would have had for Kelly. He will be competing for a roster spot in training camp.

Round 6, Pick 192 - G Jamil Demby

Demby was cut by the Rams in the last round of cuts and signed by the Detroit Lions. The Rams then signed Demby off of the Lions' practice squad in December. With the team drafting Bobby Evans and David Edward as well as the undrafted free agents they have signed, it's going to be an uphill battle for Demby to make the roster.

Round 6, Pick 195 - DT Sebastian Joseph-Day

The Rams may have drafted Joseph-Day's replacement in Greg Gaines this draft. The Rams will hope the second year player sticks on the roster as good depth.

Round 6, Pick 2015 - LB Trevon Young

Young played in played two games in 2018 and recorded one fumble recovery. Young is an intriguing player that will most definitely be competing for a roster spot in camp. However, he took advantage of his opportunity last season and if he can prove to be an effective player, there will certainly be a spot for him.

Round 7, Pick 231 - LB Travin Howard

Howard signed a futures contract with the Rams in February which means they saw something in him last year. He'll get a chance to compete for a roster spot in camp.

Round 7, Pick 244 - DE Justin Lawler

Lawler played in six games and recorded six tackles as a rookie. Lawler projects as an edge defender and with that being a thin position on the Rams' roster, there will be a spot for him on the roster if plays well in camp.

As he says there have been highs and lows, most of those lows came with us. Always respected the player and his off field endeavors.

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Now that Endgame is over and Spider-man waiting in the wings to usher in a new era of the MCU

here are a few of my thoughts on films moving forward

these are the films rumored to be the farthest along in development

Marvel has stated that Norman Osborn will be playing a large part in Phase 4 , and even larger part then Spider-man himself , Norman Osborn has always been my favorite bad guy , even though he was used in both the Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield films, as his character was way underdeveloped and one and done in both films , I mean in the Andrew Garfield film , he didn't even get out of bed ,

but going forward , sounds like Norman Osborn will be a major player throughout Phase 4 , Norman Osborn might not be the global threat that Thanos was , but he still has the ability to screw up alot of peoples lives................lol




if you've watched the new Spider-man trailer , in the scene where Spider-man is taking a selfie of himself while swinging through the city of New York , well , in the background you see them rebuilding what used to be Avengers Tower , which will now belong to Oscorps ,




The Black Widow Film is rumored to take place right after Captain America Civil War and that Taskmaster will be the bad guy ,I might not be all that excited about Black Widow , but Taskmaster , thats a different story , he's always been one of my favorite non Spider-man villains and cant't wait to see him kicking some major butt




with Doctor Strange 2 , Nightmare will be the main villain , so I'm curious if Marvel will go the horror route , Nightmare , like Freddie , can kill you in your sleep




Black Panther 2, I have no clue , I know the director wanted to use Kraven The Hunter in the first Black Panther movie but didn't get to use him , and I don't think they'll get him here either as I think SONY has plans for Kraven , but in Endgame , Wakanda did tease Namor , and in the comics Namor does destroy most of Wakanda , so thats one possibility , although only a slight possibility

The trouble with Namor is , there is a new Namor rumor like every other day , I think every major actor in Hollywood who isn't already in a MCU film has been rumored to be up for the part, so , it's been kind of a wait and see with him




GOTG 3 , probably has me the most excited , first , it's been rumored that Zac Efron has signed on to play Adam Warlock




but what has me the most excited is that Beta Ray Bill is also being reported to be in GOTG 3 , the actual original owner of the hammer Stormbreaker , and a personal favorite of might , been a big fan of Beta Ray Bill and own a signed copy by the arthur Walter Simonson of Thor #337 , which is the first appearance of Beta Ray Bill ,




so if the rumors are true , and if Beta Ray Bill makes his long awaited appearance in GOTG 3 , I'll be as giddy as a little school girl............lol




and Chang-Shi , I am ready for some Marvel Kung Fu action , and most likely a part of the MCU we haven't seen yet




The Eternals , new rumor , Keanu Reeves is set to play the main villain , but thats a pretty new rumor so still taking a wait and see attitude to it

But stuff I have been hearing makes it a movie you might wanna keep an eye on , like both Hercules and a young Odin are both reported to be in the film as well







which brings us to Avengers 5 , I suppose they could continue with the remaining Avengers

but.............

this is just speculation on my part as the movie is still a few years away , and it's not even confirmed

but...........

it's been reported that Marvel has been working on a Dark Avengers film for a while now , which brings us back to Norman Osborn who has rebuilt S.H.I.E.L.D.and has taken on the mantle of the Iron Patriot and assembled his own Avengers team after the original Avengers had been disbanded

And so with the introduction of Norman Osborn in the upcoming Spider-man film, and the new owner of STARK / Avengers tower and with a common theme running through the next 6 or 7 movies , don't be surprised if Norman Osborn becomes the leader of the new Avengers

and what a great way to introduce Venom and Wolverine into the MCU







guess what I'm saying is , the Avengers in the next Avengers film probably won't be the same Avengers that were in the last Avengers film

Welcome to the new MCU




again , this is all rumors and speculations , which is also kind of the fun about watching these movies , is trying to guess what happens next

Welcome to the MCU Norman Osborn

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.c...g-already-an-impressive-quarterback-prospect/

Third generation Manning already an impressive quarterback prospect

Get ready for the next quarterback named Manning.

Arch Manning, grandson of Archie Manning, nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, son of Cooper Manning, is still in eighth grade but played in a scrimmage Friday with the varsity team at Isidore Newman School, where his dad and both uncles also played their high school football.

The footage is impressive.

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Arch Manning looks like, well, a Manning. He has good accuracy, seems to command the offense well, and has mobility more reminiscent of his grandpa than his uncles.

Newman varsity football coach Nelson Stewart told WVUE in January that Arch Manning is already drawing a lot of interest and should be ready to play with the varsity quickly.

“Nowadays with social media, and what’s out there, obviously the interest has started,” he said. “As we say, he’s still an eighth-grader. Obviously we’re excited to have him. I think as hard as he’s working, and the the things I’ve seen, he’ll be here in a hurry. . . . He’s got a high football IQ. I think one of the things about Cooper, he grew up around it. Watching Cooper through the years, he’s a guy who understands the game. And he’s got two good uncles that have worked on some footwork, and throwing with him a little bit. He does look sound. If you look at his mechanics and his release, he’s further ahead than most we’ve had. I think he looks the part right now.”

It’s way too early to assume that Arch will do in football what his uncles and grandfather did, but he’s already got plenty of eyes on him, even before starting college.

Rams make a nice representation here. Surprised by any picks?....


https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nf...19-all-rookie-team/vi-AABw1s5?ocid=spartandhp

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...-wholl-be-division-winners-and-playoff-teams/

2019 NFL predictions: A way-too-early look at who'll be division winners and playoff teams
The Vikings capture the NFC North, the Browns are division champs, and here's what else will shake out in 2019

The NBA Finals have yet to begin, and the NHL is still weeks away from handing out the Stanley Cup. But that won't prevent me from ruminating on my annual way-too-early NFL playoff predictions.

Yes, that's right. We're doing this in May. Again. Because why not?

Don't fool yourself, these rosters are largely set and almost nothing that transpires during overblown organized team activities is gonna matter one bit once they start playing for real in September. The guys who are still available as veteran free agents generally have significant injury risks and, even with the exception of a guy like defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, I'm not buying him as being the difference between a team reaching the postseason and losing out, no matter where he signs.

The NFL's offseason is basically on hiatus until the flurry of activity that surrounds final roster cutdowns (with the possible exception of a Jadeveon Clowney trade or some other such franchise-tag shenanigans). This, for the most part, is it, and I'm ready to take my first swipe at projecting which teams will be playing into January and which will not.

AFC East
New England. Let's be real, you'd have to be a fool to predict anything other than this. Say what you want about parity and all, but it never really seems to apply in this division and as long as Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are doing their thing, I'm not betting against them. Every other team in the division is either stuck in a tear-down or still relatively early in a rebuild. The Pats might be pushed a little more than they are used to, but I don't foresee any real intrigue here barring an injury disaster for New England.

AFC West
Los Angeles. The Chargers have the most talent in the conference and while we know things have a way of going sideways for them come January, I can't fathom them not making it. They were a force last year despite never having Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram and Hunter Henry healthy for the same game, and they are in win-now mode. Love their draft, and they're continuing to develop impact players ready to emerge. Quality QB, abundant skill players and a nasty defense. Balance on both sides of the ball. I like them to host multiple playoff games at their bandbox stadium (or somewhere else if the NFL forces them to move).

AFC North
Cleveland. I'm buying the Browns. Big time. All this talk about juggling personalities and keeping all the receivers fed and happy is a debate for another day. Right now Freddie Kitchens is in a honeymoon phase and I expect this team to be young and hungry and out to make some noise. Love some of the additions to the staff – head-coach-to-be Todd Monken in particular – and the Browns are finally ascending at the right time, with the rest of this division in turmoil or rebuilding or just hiring a baby-faced head coach themselves. Who knows if they will be able to sustain things there, and that ownership group will always give you pause, but I will ride this team in 2019.

AFC South
Indianapolis. I don't see this being particularly close. The Jags keep pretending they are a contender, and the Texans seem intent on getting their QB maimed for the third straight season and the Titans are stuck in-between at QB. The Colts defense is no-name but packs a punch and Andrew Luck will be an MVP candidate. Great chemistry and culture, set by GM Chris Ballard and coach Frank Reich, and a young roster that should enter its prime en masse. Smartly avoided wasting big money in free agency and poised for years of competing.

AFC Wild Cards
Kansas City and Baltimore. The Chiefs' "defense" scares the heck out of me and if Tyreek Hill is banished from the league then good luck getting another 50 TDs out of Patrick Mahomes. Frankly, I could see this team taking a major step back given the leadership drain in the locker room, but ultimately I figure Mahomes and Andy Reid are good for 10 wins. Baltimore's offense should be totally transformed, they won't be silly about how much they ask Lamar Jacksonto do too soon, and while the pass rush will suffer they may have the best secondary in football. Love the coaching staff. They'll pick up where they left off.

NFC East
Philadelphia. I don't see this being close, either. Carson Wentz may be the NFL MVP and they have fortified key areas of need, like OL and RB. They're far ahead of every other team in this division in terms of roster composition and depth and a superior pedigree in front office/coaching. Of course, Wentz's health could be an issue again, and there will be no Nick Foles magic to conjure in 2019, but I am going by what we see on a depth chart right now, and in the NFC East I don't see it being difficult to determine that one of these teams is not like the others (especially with two of them just selecting QBs in the first round).

NFC West
Seattle. Russell Wilson need fret about his future no longer. The Seahawks have the ultimate security and will benefit immediately from John Schneider multiplying their draft haul exponentially. The Rams will regress some, and while the 49ers will surge, I see them more as a wild card threat than division champs. Seattle can run it down your throat and there's no way they bottle up Wilson like they did down the stretch a year ago. There's better talent on offense and the defense is a year removed from its exodus of veteran leaders. Pete Carroll will lead them deep into January.

NFC North
Minnesota. Kirk Cousins may not ever get them over the mountain, and he may not win huge games, but they will beat enough mediocre teams to win this division. They dealt with mental health and physical health issues on defense in 2018, but Mike Zimmer knows the bar must be set higher on that side of the ball this year, and I expect them to be more consistent and menacing. Give Cousins a few more leads and good things happen. I have serious concerns about the new power structure in Green Bay and the Aaron Rodgers/Matt Lafleur coupling could be perilous, and the Bears are the poster boys for 2019 regression to me (more on that next week).

NFC South
New Orleans. This might be it for Drew Brees and after the ridiculous way last season ended, well, look out for this group in 2019. Hell hath no furry like a Asshole Face team scorned. Uber-talented across the board and able to beat you in many ways. They bounced back from a few early-season 2018 sophomore slumps and that elite 2017 draft class will lead the way this season. I would not by any means rule out the Saints making a slash at the trade deadline to put them over the top (perhaps another WR). No team in football seems more all-in for 2019 than this bunch.

NFC Wild Cards
Los Angeles and Carolina. That Super Bowl losers slump thing has proven to be real, but Sean McVay has the chops to get this team back to the postseason despite a challenging schedule and some concerns about the offensive line and run game. I don't see them being the juggernaut they were a year ago, but they'll score enough to reach the postseason. The Panthers have quietly made smart, low-risk buys throughout free agency and the draft to upgrade the offensive line and pass rush, which were serious needs. If Cam Newton stays healthy they are the second team to emerge from the mighty NFC South, over the Falcons. If Cam crumbles due to the shoulder, I would slot the Falcons in here.

http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/26770654/former-oregon-wr-lowe-stops-armed-student

PORTLAND, Ore. -- A former college football standout at the University of Oregon was credited Friday with tackling an armed student at a Portland high school before anyone was injured.

Keanon Lowe, who is now a football and track coach and security guard at Parkrose High School, told reporters as he was leaving a police interview late Friday that he was tired but relieved at the outcome, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

There are no other suspects. Police declined to release any information about the student's name and said they were still trying to determine if he fired any shots. Portland Police spokesman Sgt. Brad Yakots declined to confirm Lowe's reported involvement.

"I'm just happy everyone was OK,'' Lowe said as he walked out of the school about four hours after the incident, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive. "I'm happy I was able to be there for the kids and for the community.''

Lowe didn't reply to messages sent on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Parkrose School District Superintendent Michael Lopes-Serrao said in a letter to families Friday evening that before the incident two students had informed a staff member of "concerning behavior'' by the armed student.

Security staff then responded, found the student and quickly disarmed him, he said.

"Thanks to their heroic efforts all students and staff are safe,'' Lopes-Serrao wrote.

Yakots, the police spokesman, said the first responding officers found the gunman being detained by the staff member in the hallway. A firearm was recovered at the school, he added.

Parkrose was evacuated and a nearby middle school was on lockdown for several hours as the investigation unfolded. The high school students were bused to a nearby parking lot where they were reunited with their parents.

The outcome was "the best-case scenario, absolutely,'' Yakots said. "The staff member did an excellent job by all accounts, [and] our officers arrived within minutes and went right in.''

Students recounted how the student entered their government class in the school's fine arts building -- separate from the main building -- just before noon. Lowe had been in the classroom earlier looking for the student, whom other students identified as an 18-year-old senior at Parkrose.

About 10 minutes before the end of class, the student appeared in the doorway in a black trench coat and pulled out a long gun from beneath his coat, senior Justyn Wilcox, who also was in the room, told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

The student didn't point the gun at anyone, Alexa Pope said.

Students fled out the back door because the gunman was blocking the main doorway.

"As I was running, I was just like, Lord, don't let this be it,'' Pope told the newspaper.

In college, Lowe was a star wide receiver at the University of Oregon, playing from 2011 to 2014. He caught 10 touchdown passes in his college career and had nearly 900 receiving yards, and he also saw playing time on special teams.

After college, Lowe worked as an offensive analyst for the San Francisco 49ersand as an analyst for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Lowe began working at Parkrose last year as the school's head football and track and field coach, according to his LinkedIn profile. Before that, he worked for his high school alma mater, Portland's Jesuit High School, where he earned state defensive player of the year honors as a defensive back and was a standout sprinter.

Students, parents and co-workers lauded Lowe's actions on Twitter, calling him a hero. Several also noted that the school's prom, scheduled for Saturday, was still on.

Olivia Katbi Smith wrote on Twitter that she coaches track with Lowe at Parkrose and wasn't surprised to learn what he did.

"As soon as I heard what happened I knew it was him because he would do anything for these kids. It was surreal to be waiting for my athletes behind caution tape today, but might have been much worse if not for Keanon,'' she wrote.

Lopes-Serrao said the student with the gun will not be returning to school and that school will resume on Monday as usual with an enhanced security presence.

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Didn't make it in the pros, but has a better highlight.

I had to notice this YouTube show, which has been on for years now. I just watched an episode with comedian Tommy Lee that made me actually laugh out loud more than twice, which I rarely do.

The premise of the show is that a famous person is invited on the show, and host Sean Evans and the guest eat progressively hotter, hot wings and he asks him really well researched questions as he deals with the pain. Each hot sauce bottle, which progresses up the Scoville scale (unit of measure of the pungency of chile peppers and other spicy foods) is placed in front of the chicken wing that spiced it. Many famous people have done this show and if you want to spend some time watching them in pain, be ready. You might get lost down the internet rabbit hole! lol

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqyE-7Y55kU

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...at-nfls-next-wave-of-head-coaching-candidates

Shane Waldron, Los Angeles Rams
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   Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press
   Sean McVay's stardom lost a little bit of its luster after the Los Angeles Rams scored only three points in their Super Bowl LIII loss to the New England Patriots.
   
   Still, every team seemingly wants the next McVay, even though no one else can replicate the 33-year-old's brilliance, with the humbleness to to lead a team where certain players are the same age or older.
   
   What's the alternative? Pluck candidates from McVay's coaching tree.
   
   The Cincinnati Bengals did so when they hired Zac Taylor to replace Marvin Lewis. The Green Bay Packers hired Taylor's predecessor, Matt LaFleur. Shane Waldron's elevation to head coach status is the next logical step.
   
   Waldron now serves as the Rams' pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach after Taylor's departure.
   
   "He's such a good communicator," Jared Goff said, per the Boston Herald's Kevin Duffy. "He's able to convey what he's trying to say in many different ways to many different people."
   
   Taylor, a collegiate quarterback, brought more personality. Waldron is more reserved and calculating in his approach.
   
   "I think Shane has given us a whole lot more than a passing game coordinator," McVay told reporters in November. "I think the leadership that he provides, the steady force as far as just a great demeanor, a great presence, (he's) somebody that I can certainly learn from."
   
   The McVay experience is already a major selling point. Waldron's candidacy is doubly exciting because he comes from the Bill Belichick tree as well. The 39-year-old coach started his NFL career as a New England Patriots quality control then tight ends coach.
   

And other, lesser candidates:
Byron Leftwich, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Duce Staley, Philadelphia Eagles
Eric Bieniemy, Kansas City Chiefs
Kevin Stefanski, Minnesota Vikings
Kris Richard, Dallas Cowboys
Matt Eberflus, Indianapolis Colts
Todd Monken, Cleveland Browns

https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2019/...18-football-outsiders-adjusted-games-lost-agl
Los Angeles Rams fourth-healthiest team in NFL in 2018 per Football Outsiders

The Rams have been insanely fortunate on the health front the last three years.

By 3k@3k_ May 16, 2019, 5:27pm CDT

It’s become somewhat of an annual tradition for the Los Angeles Rams: celebrating the arrival of Football Outsiders’ Adjusted Games Lost (AGL) metric that quantifies the healthiest teams each season.

How does AGL work?

We have collected the data from the NFL’s weekly injury reports for every season since 2002. This allows us to measure not just who played and who didn’t, but who was able to play with injuries, even if those injuries meant the player was at something less than 100 percent. That’s why we call this metric adjusted games lost -- in addition to players who missed games entirely, we also count those who hit the field after appearing on the injury report at an adjusted rate. Further, we track whether the injured player was a starter, a situational reserve, or simply bottom-of-the-roster fodder. Obviously, an injury to a starting tackle is more important than one to a guy who only plays on special teams.

We should note that we have changed our definition of “situational reserves” this year. In years past, we have used rather broad strokes to look for non-starters with specific roles -- third-down backs, third wide receivers, nickelbacks, etc. This year, we actually looked at each player’s snap count to try to determine who was regularly seeing the field, including rotational defensive linemen, two-down linebackers, and change-up running backs. This is far more art than science, and it can be difficult to measure as player’s roles change throughout the year, but we think it gives a more accurate measure of who is and is not an important role player.

Back in 2016, the Rams were the healthiest team in the NFL with a low 29.0 AGL.

In 2017, that number dropped even lower to just 15.6 as the Rams remained the healthiest team.

For this last season? Well, we can no longer claim the AGL crown.

The 2018 Rams were the fourth-healthiest team with an AGL of 39.6. While many would jump to concluding that WR Cooper Kupp’s ACL injury was the major proponent here, FO’s breakout of Offensive AGL and Defensive AGL shows that’s not the case.

The Rams were second in Offensive AGL with a 10.9 meaning Kupp’s 11-game absence didn’t weight very heavily. Instead, it was the Defensive AGL of 28.7 that ranked 13th that pulled the Rams off the perch. CB Aqib Talib spent eight weeks on injured reserve while ILB Mark Barron missed the first four games. Throw in season-long IR stints for EDGE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, EDGE Morgan Fox and CB Kevin Peterson and it’s easy to see the impact. I do wonder how they quantified the injury to RB Malcolm Brown or the impacts of the injuries to CB Marcus Peters and RB Todd Gurley that impacted their game performances.

So while the Rams might not have been the healthiest team in the NFL in 2018, they certainly remain one of the most fortunate teams in the NFL on the health front.